When a grade 12 learner failed his/her matric people laugh or call him/her stupid or slow learner right? In other cases they make fun of them.

Since our government introduces the inception of free education, public schools have been performing poorly in National examinations. This is linked to poor leadership where most head teachers in public primary schools rarely ensure teachers teach.

The disadvantages of public schools?

Public Schools cons

1. Less flexible curriculum

2. Larger class sizes

3. Overcrowding

4. Under funding

5. Government mandated regulations

6. Lack of discipline

According to the latest National Education Infrastructure Management System Report, the majority of public schools have no laboratories, libraries, or computer centres.

74% of schools don’t have libraries

80% lack science labs

63% don’t have computer centres

And the poorer the province is, the greater the shortage in infrastructure, to the point where schools don’t even have basic necessities- such as toilets and desks.

In Limpopo many schools lack desks, their classes are cold with broken doors and crashed windows and local government does nothing about it.

Grade 12 learner Kagiso Mokobi says,” studying without basic resources such as water is hard, when is very hot, we struggle to focus.”

More than 90% of schools in Limpopo have no science labs.

Learners don’t fail because they’re stupid or slow Learners. They fail because the school is not adequately resourced. And they don’t have enough textbooks. They share them as groups of five for other subjects and others doesn’t get enough time to prepare for exams, because they stay far apart from each other.

” Teachers in public schools are less enthusiastic and only start teaching pupils when preparing for an examination. This has led to poor preparation of candidates in the Schools, while in private schools they start preparing early. Some teachers in public schools spend more time gossiping or engaging in private business than teaching.”

Important notice: is also that most teachers in private schools are young and energetic.” Says Bivern Wekesa.

Research has shown young people are more productive and TSC should employ teachers immediately they graduate from College. Money is not the only mode of motivation. Most private schools do not give teachers huge salaries but they work round the clock to make sure candidates pass. For the public schools to perform better, the Government should be more involved in routine inspection of teaching.

Many areas of the country are facing classrooms that are full and overcrowded, how will Learners perform well in the larger class sizes, government must ensure that they reduce every class to 30 or 40 Learners per class

Most teachers in public schools agree that they cannot effectively teach every student in a classroom, if the class size is exceeds about 30 Learners. Their statement are back up by research based on class size matters a lot.

Poverty also leads to poor results

Minority students, those living in poverty and male students appeared to benefit from smaller classroom sizes the most. Students living at or below poverty level tend to have the highest drop out rates. Studies show that students who do not get enough food or sleep are less likely to perform at their full academic potential.

Family factors

Family factors also play a role in a teacher’s ability to teach Learners. Principal and teachers agree that what is going on at home will impact a student’s propensity to learn. Divorce, single parents, poverty, violence and many other issues are all challenges a student brings to school every day.

Thanks for reading

Have your say to make South Africa better

Sources to look at for further reading

www.standardmedia.co.ke

www.plubicschoolreview.com

www.mg.co.za

www.neatoday.org